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The Wall Street Journal takes interest in Ft. Bayard

The first in a series of articles on Ft. Bayard, whose future is uncertain

By Susan Dunlap

sdunlap@scsun-news.com on Twitter @SCSunNews

Posted:
02/13/2014 06:07:57 PM MST

By Susan Dunlap - Sun-News
Rick Scibelli, a Sante Fe-based photographer hired by the Wall Street Journal to take photos of Ft. Bayard with Buffalo Soldier reenactors present, talked to William McCurtis, one of the reenactors at the Ft. Bayard National Cemetery Wednesday. McCurtis explained to Scibelli why representing the Buffalo Soldiers, whose history is such an important part of Ft. Bayard, is important to him.

SILVER CITY >> Fort Bayard could be on the chopping block — and now the Wall Street Journal is interested.

The Wall Street Journal hired a photographer who travelled all the way from Santa Fe to Silver City to set up a photo shoot with two Buffalo Soldier re-enactors, Aaron Plump and William McCurtis, who dress as Buffalo Soldiers and tell their story. Plump said he has also appeared in two films.

Plump and McCurtis were in Silver City for a talk at WNMU about the Buffalo Soldiers as part of WNMU's week-long observation of black history month in conjunction with WNMU'S 121st birthday celebration this week. Plump and McCurtis spoke before a small gathering Wednesday morning at the Student Memorial Building and enlightened the audience on the history of Buffalo Soldiers — so-called, according to McCurtis and Plump, because Native Americans thought the African-American soldiers' hair was similar to the buffalo.

By Susan Dunlap - Sun-News
Aaron Plump, who now lives in Arizona, was a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy for 22 years. Now Plump and his partner, McCurtis, dress as Buffalo Soldiers to tell a history that is often unknown. Plump and McCurtis visited Ft. Bayard and Ft. Bayard National Cemetery to pay their respects to the Buffalo Soldiers buried there and allow the Wall St. Journal to take photographs Wednesday.

"You haven't heard me say the words 'black,' 'African-American,' 'Negro,' or 'colored,'" McCurtis said to the casual crowd. "The main thought among Buffalo Soldiers is they wanted to be recognized as American fighting men."

Both men spoke about how African-Americans had to fight for the right to fight for this country and how little people — regardless of race — know about the Buffalo Soldiers or the history of African-Americans fighting in American wars.

"Blacks have fought in every war we've had, from the Revolution on through," Plump said before the group.

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After the talk, which lasted for approximately two hours, the two men, along with members of the Ft. Bayard Historical Preservation Society, travelled to the small museum housed at the officer's quarters on the 400-acre campus and met with the photographer, Rick Scibelli. Scibelli is a Sante Fe-based freelance photographer who was hired by the Wall Street Journal to take photos of the Buffalo Soldier re-enactors at Ft. Bayard.

According to the nonprofit group, Buffalo Soldiers of the American West, African-Americans signed up to serve in the military and were sent west of the Mississippi River because of attitudes in the South during the late 1800s. Their assignment was to protect settlers — who were primarily white — as they moved into the West and to encourage westward expansion by building infrastructure. They earned $13 a month, more money than they could have made in civilian life. Although the 9th and 10th cavalry, the units comprised of Buffalo Soldiers, would call Fort Leavenworth out of Kansas their "home," their history is very entwined with Ft. Bayard as this area was an outpost for the U.S. Army during the Indian wars in the late 1800s. According to the Associated Press, Ft. Bayard was established in 1866 by the Army to protect miners and other settlers from the Apache. The Buffalo Soldiers were sent here to protect the settlers and fight against Native-Americans.

"It was a mission designed to fail," Plump said at the talk at WNMU. "No one knew what they'd find out here."

Ft. Bayard's future is unclear, according to The Associated Press. Maintaining the old hospital alone costs about $100,000 a year. The many other historic buildings on the nearly 150-year-old fort are all in need of repair. Bringing those buildings up to current code would cost tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, money for preservation projects has dried up in Washington, D.C., according to The Associated Press.

New Mexico General Services Secretary Ed Burckle is accepting offers for Ft. Bayard. Ads have been placed in places such as the Wall Street Journal. According to The Associated Press, bids to demolish the old hospital will go out soon.

Dale and Jeanette Giese, members of the Ft. Bayard Historical Preservation Society, were both in attendance at the photo shoot. Dale Giese has testified before a Congressional committee to have Ft. Bayard recognized as a national historical landmark. He said he was very impressed that the Wall Street Journal was taking some apparent interest in the local landmark.

"It belongs to all the people of the United States," he said. "It's not a local thing, it's not a state thing. This place played a very important part in the American West. It's a great asset to our community."